Snubbing device



March ,19, 1929. w, SEARL'ES l1,705,828

l i SNUBBING DEVICE Filed March 15, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l l 'y Vbilliges s i@ l INVENToR. :I mw W SEARLES,

l ATTQRNEY.

March 1".;J .392% L W. SEARLS SNUBBING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch l5. 1928 I yf/wv WT ,5E/WM5,

ATTORNEY.

March '19, 1929. l.. w. sEARLnz-:s

' SNUBBING DEVICE Filed March 15, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 i INVENTOR.L//V/V W SEARLES,

` TToR/vmf,

March 19, 1929.

L.. w. sEVARLEs SNUBBI NG DEVICE Filed March 15, 1928 6.Sheets-Shee1:v 5

Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES A 1,705,828 PATENT OFFICE. l

III/NN W. SEARLES, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

` sNUBBiNe DEvIcE.

. Application led March 15, 1928. Serial- No. 261,864.

tioned character, which will automatically re turn the road arm of thegate to the normal position, after being shifted laterally, and

when the load is removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatusof the abovementioned character, embodying an anchor element having a plurality ofprongs, so arranged and associated with a support or housing that theanchor element will be automatically adjusted to bring o'ne of theprongs to an uppermost vertical position, when the anchor element is ireturned to the normal starting position.

A vfurther object 0f the invention is to provide a snubbingdevice of.the above mentioned-character, which is automatic and reliable inoperation. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a snubbing device of theabove mentioned character embodying an anchor element so lconstructedthat the road arm of the gate, when lowered,'may rest upon the anchorelement without locking engagement therewith, to permit of the raisingof the road aim, such locking engagement automatically occurring whenthe road arm is shifted laterally. `Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent during the course of the followingdescription. i v

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same, i

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a snubbing device embodying myinvention, the same being associated with a railway crossing gate,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, Figure 3 is an enlarged plan Viewofthe snubbing device,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same, Figure 5-.is a rear endelevation of the snubbmg device,

Figure 6- is a front end elevation of the same, g

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertjicalsection taken on line 7 '-7 ofFigure 3,

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-.8 of Figure 4,

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken on `line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a similar view taken online 10Q-10 of Figure 8,

Figure 11 is a similar view taken on line 11-11 of Figure 8, and

Figure 12 is a detailed section taken on line 12-12 of Figure 8..

. In the drawings, whereln for the purpose of'illustration, is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 15 designates the bodyportion or road arm of a gate, which body portion is capable of swingingboth vertically and horizontally. The gate is preferably of theconstruction shown and described in the co-pending application ofCharles H. Gage and Arthur E. Searles, Serial No. 133,152, liledSeptember 2, 1926, for railway gate. The body or road arm portion 15 isformed of an integral or continuous metal rod, bent upon itself betweenits ends, into a generally U-shaped form.

This rod t-hus bent provides a pair of main side rods 16, connected at'their free ends by a loop 17. The rod 15 is preferably formed of pianowire steel.

The numeral 18 designates a vertically swinging support or block,arranged at the opposite end of the bodyportion 15. This support orblock is rigidly mounted upon a horizontal rockshaft 19, ournaled instationarybearings 2Q. The shaft 19 may be turned by any suitable means,for raising and lowering the gate. Pivoted upon the vertically swingingsupport 18 is a horizontally swinging block 21, pivoted thereto by meanslof a pin 22. IThe rear ends of the rods 16 are anchored or rigidlyattached to the block 21. Attached to the block 21', forwardly of thepivot 22, is a shifting pin 27, engaged by leafsprings 33. attached to aVportion of the support 18. These leaf-springs serve to return the bodyportion 15 of the gate to the normal se, is thought to be necessary.

The snubbing device embodies a housing or frame 35, including sides36,'yconnected by a top portion 37. This housing or frame may bein theform of. a casting. As more clearly shown in Figures 4 and 8, thenumerals 38 and 39 designate bearings, which are substantiallyidentical. .These bearings carry flanges 40 and 41. The bearings 38 and39 are each square in cross section and are -substantially identical.These bearings are, therefore, nonrotatable and are held within openings42,.which are also square in cross section, and these openings areformed in the sides 36. The bearings 38 and 39 Vare held in place byplates 43, attached to the sides 36 by bolts 44.

The numeral designates a. stationary non-rotatable shaft, having anintermediate cylindrical portion 46, and end portions 47 and 48, whichare square in cross section, and held within the bearings 38 and A39,whereby the shaft can not rotate, and it is also incapable of movinglongitudinally perceptibly. The cylindrical intermediate portion '46 hasits outer or free end ,screwthreaded, as shown at 49, and-the diameterof the turns of the: screw-threads are slightly smaller than thediameter of the unscreW-threaded portion of the cylindrical portion 46.The numeral 50 designates a drum, including a hub 51, which is rotatableupon the cylindrical portion 46, and has its bore smooth and free fromscrew-threaded engagement with the screw-threads 49. The hub 51, seemore particularly Figure 9, is provided in its outer face With a recess52, which is square in crossv section, and receives a traveling nut 53,engaging upon the screwthreads 49. As the hub 51 is rotated, it turnsthe traveling nut 53, and this traveling nut will shift the hub 51longitudinally upon the shaft 45.

A friction clutch device is provided for coaction with the drum 50 andthe same includes a non-rotatable friction disc 54, having a hub 55,Figure 10, 4andfthe bore of this hub is square in cross section, toslidably receive the square endl ortion 48 of the stationary shaft.Theftp fore, can not rotate upon the end portion 48 but may move"longitudinally .of theV same.,

- .The friction clutch device. embodies a col actingfrictiondisc'56whichfis rotatably l'but when the drumis ,turned inthe reversedirection, to rewind the cable, the pawl will trip over the ratchetteeth, and the friction disc 56 will remain stationary. The drum 50 1sprovlded with an internal annular flange riction disc 54, there#v is the,initier end of the'spiing 77 inwardly for' ,the

62, having an annular groove or raceway 63, vformed` therein, co-actmgwith the annular groove or raceway 64, formed in the friction disc 54,receiving bearing balls 65. It Y1s thus seen that the friction between`the nonthe cable, without liability of the drinn sticlring or locking.

Resilient means are provided to effect the proper frictional engagementbetween the friction discs 54 and 56, and this resilient means includesa cylindrical keeper or holder 66, having a hub 67, provided with a bore68, Figure 11, which is square in cross `seetion, to receive the outerportion 69 of the hib 55, which outer portion is exteriorly square incross section. Hence, the keeper or holder 66-may slide longitudinallyupon the hub 55, but can not turn thereon. The keeper 66 is provided.with recesses 70, receiving compressible coil springs 71, of suitablestiffness, and any suitable number of these springs may be used. Thesesprings project outwardly beyond the inner ends of the recesses 70, andengage a ring 73, the inner edge of which is provided with an openingsquare in cross section to engage with the portion 69 of the hub 55,which portion is square in cross section. The ring 73 is, therefore,non-rotatable with the carrier 66 and is capable of movinglongitudinally upon the hub 55. A This ring simply serves as a. cap forthe springs 71, A

so that they do not directly engage the frictiondisc 565 When thelfriction disc 56 is formed of steel, I would preferablyV form the ring73 of copper or bronze for reducing the friction between these parts. Aring unut 74 is arranged Within a recess or notch 75,

, formed in the flange 41, and has screw-threaded engagement with theflange,- at 76, and this ring nut bears against the keeper 66, and bysuitable rotation of the ring nut, the keeper 66 -nay be advanced towardthe friction disc 56,

thereby permanently adjusting the-tension of the springs 71.

- Mounted within the drum 50 is a torsional coilspring 77 one-end ofwhich is anchored to the;;.pylindrical portion 46 of the shaft 45, as i'"ly shown in Figure 12. This ate'ected by bending preferably producing ahook 78, which hookengages bcneath thelip 79, formed in. the shaft. VThehookV is -held in place, by a block 80, secured to the shaft by a screw81. The opposite end of the spring is suitably attached to the peri.

amm o is shifted longitudinally, which movement is ordinarily relativelyslight, the

spring 77 will flex laterally sufficiently, to permit of (thisoperation.

The drum has its periphery grooved, as

lshown at 82, and the cable 83 is wound upon is attached to an anchorelement 86..

The anchor element embodies a shank 87, having a bore 88, receiving theend of the cable 83, held in the bore by a lead casting or filling 89,as is well known.' The shank 87 is cylindrical. The free end of theshank is tapered at 89, Formed integral with the outer or free end ofthe shank is a head 90, having three connecting elements or prongs 91,arranged in a triangular group, the same being equi-distantly spaced.Each prong 90 has an .undercut portion or recess 92 and an inclinedface92. T he shank 87 is adapted to slide within a tubular guide socket93, the bore ofwhieh is cylindrical, to receive the shank.l The forwardend of the top 37 0f thc housing is shown at 94, and this portion iscurved in a vertical plane, both longitudinally and transversely. As aresult of this arrangement, the prong or prongs, when first brought intoengagement with the end portion 9.4 will automatically adjust the anchorelement, turning the same upon its longitudinal axis, so that one prongwill always be in an u permost vertical position,when the shank 8 hascompleted its movement into the guidelsocket 93. The loop 17 of the bodyportion or road arm 15 is adapted to engage over and behind theverticall arranged prong 91, being guided toward tie same by theinclined surface 92 of the socket 93, if necessary.

The inclined face 92 may also serve to guide the loopa17 to its restingposition on the shank 87 ,if it should descend slightly laterallydisplaced due to the iiexing of the body portion or roa arm 15. When thearm is thus in the lowered position, with the loop 17 resting upon theshank 87, saidloop is in alinement with the recess 92, but out of thesame. This permits the road arm to be raised, without locking with theprong 91. However, when the arm 15 is shifted laterally, as when struckby a vehicle, the loop 17 enters the recess 92, and the loop is lockedtothe anchor element.` y

Thesnubbing device has lits longitudinal axis arranged dlagonally withrelation tothe longitudinal axis of the road arm 15, which will permitthe cable topayrout with the minimum lateralfriction between theengaging parts. The operation of the apparatus. is as fo lows:

When the body portion or road off the loop- 17 is arranged behind theupstanding vertical prong 91. If the bod )ortion 15 of thegate shouldnow be struckI by an approaching vehicle, it will swing horizontally inthe direction of travel of they vehicle. The lateral pull upon the loop17 will be transmitted to the cable 83, causing the drum 50 to rotate inthe direction to pay out the cable. At the beginning ofthis paying'outrotation, the same is opposed by the friction clutch device embodyingthe friction discs 54 and 56 and as this paying out rotation continues,the friction clutch device offers a progressively increasing resistanceto the paying out rfotation ofthe druml This increase in resistance iscaused by the rotation of the nut 53 by the, hub 51, the nut 53traveling inwardly upon the portion 46 of the stationary shaft 45,shifting the drum 50 in the samedirection. This longitudinal shifting of-the drum is transmitted to the friction disc 54, through the medium ofthe bearing balls and associated elements, whereby the friction disc 54is urged against the friction disc 56, whichin turn is urged against thesprings 71, whereby the extent of frictional, engagement between thefrictional discs 54 and 56 is increased.

The bodyportion 15 will thus yield laterally is removed from the bodyportion or road` arm 15, the .spring 77 will automatically rotate thedrum 50 in areverse direction, the pawl 59, then trip ing over theratchet teeth 58, both friction 4discs 54 and 56 being then stationary.Upon this return rotation of the drum, `the bearing balls 65'produc'ethe least frictional engagement between the drum 50, and the frictiondisc 54, whereby the spring 77 will at all times be' capable ofreturning the drum. Upon the reverse rotation of the drum and its hub51, the nut 53 will rotate and travel in a reverse direction, thusprogressively reducing the extent of friction'al enga ement betweeil thefriction discs 5,4 and. f course, the bodvl'po'rtion or road arm A.

56. 15 of the gate is raise and lowered by any suitable means, and theloop 17 will 'readily pass from behind the Iprong 91, during thisoperation.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, lis to be taken yas a -preferred example of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size ahd arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

the gate is ir the closed or lowered position claim Having thusdescribed my invention, I-4

lao l 1. In a snubbing device, a rotatable member, a flexible elementcarried thereby, a friction clutch device having connection with therotatable member in a manner to oppose its rotation in a direction topay out the flexible element and to render the member free to iotate inan opposite direction Without being opposed by said friction clutchdevice, and means to progressively regulate the action of the frictionclutch device including a traveling nut rotated by said rotatablemember.

2. 1n a snubbing device, a shaft, a rotatable member mounted upon theshaft, a iiexible element, carried by the rotatable member, a clutchdevice, pavvl and ratchet means connecting'the clutch device with therotatable member so that the clutch device will opposey the rotation ofsaid member in a direction to pay out the iiexible element,means forexert-` ing increasing pressure upon the friction clutch deviceincluding a traveling nut having screw-threaded engagement upon theshaft, and rotated by the rotatable member.

3. In a snubbing device, a shaft, means for supporting the, shaft andholding the same against rotation, a drum rotatable upon the shaft, aflexible element carried by the drum, a spring-arranged within the drumand attached to the shaft and to the drum, 4a friction clutch devicecarried by the shaft and including a rotatable friction clutch disc anda non-rotatable friction clutch disc, pawl and ratchet meanseonnectingthe rotatable friction clutch disc With the drum, means forapplying increasing pressure to the friction' clutch device including atraveling nut having screw-threaded engagement With said shaft, androtated by the drum.

'4. In a snubbing device, a shaft, means for supporting the shaft andholding the same against rotation, a drum rotatable upon the shaft, aflexible element carried by the drum, a spring arranged within the drumand attached to the shaft and drum, a friction clutch device carried bythe shaft and including a rotatable friction clutch disc and anonrotatable friction clutch disc, anti-friction means arranged betweenparts of the drum and the non-rotatable friction clutch disc, pawl andratchet means connecting the rotatable friction clutch disc and drum,and means for applying increasing pressure to the friction clutch deviceincluding a traveling nut having screw-threaded engagement with theshaft and rotated by the drum.

5. In a snubbing device, a shaft, means for supporting the shaft andholding the same against rotation, a drum rotatable upon the shaft, aspring Within. the drum and con:

nected with the shaft and drum, a flexible element carried by the drum,a friction clutch device mounted upon the shaft and including anon-rotatable friction clu'tehdisc and a rotatable friction clutch disc,said drum and friction clutch disc being shiftable longitudinally of theshaft, pavvl aiid ratchet means connecting the rotatable friction clutchdisc and drum, resilient means engaging the'friction clutch device andadapted to apply ini creasing pressure to the same When the frictionclutch device is shifted longitudinally of the shaft toward the same,means whereby the friction clutch device is shifted longitudinally bythe longitudinal movement of the drum, and a traveling nut havingscrewthreaded engagement with the shaft and driven by the drum andserving to shift the drum longitudinally of the shaft in one direction.l

6. In a snubbing device, a shaft having an intermediate cylindricalportion and end portions Which are polygonal in cross section, a supportreceiving said end portions to hold the vshaft against rot-ation, a drumhaving a hub rotatable upon the intermediate cylindrical portion of theshaft, said hub having a polygonal opening and the hub being shift.

able longitudinally of said shaft, a traveling nut having screw-threadedengagement With the shaft and arranged Withinl the recess S0 that'thenut is turned by the shaft and effec'tsl the longitudinal movement ofthe drum in onedirecion, a spring arranged Within the drum and connectedwith the shaft and with the drum, a flexible element carried by thedrum, a nonrotatable friction clutch dise having a hub provided with a.bore which is polyg` onal in cross section to receive the adjacent endportion of the shaft, the last named hub having a cylindrical portionand a portion which is polygonal in cross section, a rotatable frictionclutch disc mounted upon the last named cylindrical hub portionl andengaging the non-rotatable friction clutch disc, paWl and ratchet meansconnecting the rotatable friction clutch disc and the drum, the hub ofthe non-rotatable friction clutch disc being shiftable longitudinally ofthe shaft, a carrier mounted upon the last named polygonal hub portion,springs mounted upon the carrier and exerting pressureupon the frictionclutch discs; and a non-rotatable ring interposed between thevspringsand the friction clutch device and having a part engaging the last namedpolygonall hub portion.

7. The combination with a crossing gateincluding a movable road armprovided at 4'its end with a loop, of a snubbing device for coactionwith said arm, including a support positioned near the path of travel ofthe free end of the arm, an anchor element guided in its movement uponsaid support and embody- Iing a shank and a prong providing a recess atits rear, the arrangement being such that p isp flexible elementconnected with the anchor, and paying-outmeans mounted upon the supportand connected with the ilexible element. v 8. In a snubbing device, asupport provided near its top with a generally horizontal guide socket,said support having its face forwardly of the guide socket inclinedvertically inv longitudinal and transverse sections, an anchor elementembodying a shank to ente;1 the guide socket and three prongs carried bythe shank and arranged in a triangular group, said prongs being adaptedto engage with the inclined faces of the support when the shank is movedtoward and into the guide socket whereby one of the prongs automaticallyassumes an upper vertical position, a flexible element secured to theshank, `and winding means carried by the support and connected with theflexible element.

9. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying an arm capableof. swinging vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing device forco-action therewith, including a support, an attaching element mountedupon the support and movable with relation theretoV and adapted -fordetachable engagement with the free end portion of the arm, a rotatablemember mounted upon the support,A a flexible element wound upon therotatable member and connected with the attaching element, and means tooEer increasing resistance to the rotation of the rotatable member in adirection to pay out the .flexible element.

10. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying an armcapable of swinging vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing devicefor co-action therewith, including a support, an attaching elementmounted upon the support and movable with relation thereto and adaptedfor detachable engagement 'with tlfe free end portion of the armarotatablefmember mounted upon the support,

a flexible element wound 'upon' the rotatable A member and connectedwith the attaching element, .means te offer increasing resistance ltotherotation offithe rotatable member in a. direction to pay out the'flexible element,- and means tdrotate the rotatable membe in a reversedirection to wind the flexible -ele ment thereon.

11. The combination with a railway cross ing gate embodying an arm,lcapable-of swinging -vertieally and horizontal vof -a snubbing devicefor. co-action therewith, including a support, an \fattaching elementmounted upon the support andmovablewtl relation thereto and adapted..vfor detachable engagement with the free-end portion of the arm,

a rotatable-member mounted uponrth'e support, a flexible element woundupon the rotatable member and connected withthe attaching element, afriction clutch device, and

,pawl and ratchet means connecting the fric- `tiomclutch device with therotatable member..

12. The combination with a railwa crossing gate embodying an arm capableo swin ing vertically and horizontally, of a snu ybing device forco-action therewith, including a support, an attaching element mountedupon the support and movable with relation thereto and adapted fordetachable engagement with the free end portion of the arm, a rotatabmember mounted upon the support, a iiexible element wound upon therotatable member and connected with the attaching element, a frictionclutch device, pawl and ratchet means connecting the friction clutchdevice with the rotatable member, and means to rotate the rotatablemember in one direction with relation to the friction clutch device.v

13. The combination with a railwa crossing gate embodying an arm capableo swinging vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing device forco-action with the arm, said snubbing device embodying an attachingelement, means whereby the arm is locked to the attaching element whenshifted hori-` zontally and the arm being free from connection with theattaching element to move upwardly when it is in the normal transverseposition, a rotatable drum carried by the support, a flexible elementwound upon the drum and connected with the attaching element and meansto oppose the rotation of the drum in a direction to pay out theflexible element. e 14S. The combination with a railway crossing gate,embodying an arm ca able of swinging vertica ly and horizonta ly,- saidv100 armhaving a loop near its free end, of a snubbing device arrangedfor co-action with the loop of said arm, said snubbing device includinga support, an attaching element having an upstanding part to enter theloop,

the arrangement being such that the upstanding 4part when the arm isshifted horizontally with the upstanding part ,within said p, a iiexibleent connected with the ttaching elemen nd winding means conv ted withthe, bleA element and adapted o offer a resista v to the paying out ofthe Mflexible element.

. 15. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying an armadapted to swing vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing device `forco-action with the arm, said snubbing device embodying a support,-anattach-gif?? ing element carrled by the support and movable withrelation thereto, means Wherebythe attaching element may have detachablelocking engagement with the arm, and

friction clutch means to oppose the movement of the attaching element.

l16. The combination with a railway cross- 13o y. ing gate embodying anarm adapted to swing vertically and horizontally, of a snubbing devicefor co-action therewith comprising a support having a socket, of anattaching element movable into and out of the socket,

'means whereby the attaching element may have detachable lockingengagement with the arm, and eans to oppose the movement of the attachinl,element out of the socket.

17, The combination with a railway crossing gate embod ing an armadapted to swing horizontally, o a snubbing device for co-actiontherewith including a support having a socket, an attaching elementmovable longitudinally within the socket, means for eli-'ectingl adetachable engagement between the attaching element and arm, aiiexibleelement secured to the attaching elementiand means to oppose the payingout of the iexible element. I

18. In a snubbing device, a rotatable member, a exible element carriedbythe rotatable member, a friction clutch device, pawlv and ratchetmeans connecting the friction clutch device with the rotatable member so.that the friction clutch device will oppose the rotation of said memberin a direction to pay out the iexible' element, means for exertingincreasing pressure upon the friction clutch device including atraveling nut rotated by said rotatable member, anda spring to turn therotatable member in a direction to wind the flexible element thereon.

19. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying a roadarmcapable of swinging vertically and horizontally, of a l snubbingdevice for co-action therewith, in-

' cluding a support, an attaching element mounted upon the supportandmovable with relation thereto, and adapted for detachableinterlocking engagement with the road arm, a :flexible element connectedwith the attaching element, and means to control the paying out movementof the flexible element by oieringresistance to such paying outmovement.

20. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying a road`armcapable of I by` offering resistance to such paying out movement.

2l.' The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying a road armcapable of swinging vertically and horizontally, a snubbing device forco-action therewith, includ-` ing a support, an attaching elementmounted upon'the support and movable with relation thereto, and adaptedfor detachable interlocking engagement lwith the road arm, a"

flexible element connected with the attaching clement, a movable memberengaging the flexible element for controlling its paying out movement,and means for odering resistance to the movement of said member in onedirec-v tion.

22. The combination with a railway crossing gate embodying a road armcapable of swinging vertically and horizontally, a snubbing device forco-action therewith, including a support, an' attaching element mountedupon the support and movable generallyl in the directionol:l traiicapproaching the road arm and adapted for detachable interlockingengagement with the road arm, and means to control the movement of theattaching element in one direction by offering resistance to suchmovement( i In testimony whereof I aHX my signature.

LINNv W. SEARLES.y

